Almaty. March 7. Kazakhstan Today - In January - February, 2007 KZT strengthened by 2.2 %. The Chairman of the board of the National bank of Kazakhstan Anvar Saydenov said today at the press conference devoted to the situation in the financial market of the country, the agency reports. According to Saydenov, in February 2007 the tendency for growth of KZT rate in relation to US dollar was observed. "Within a month KZT rate to the US dollar changed in the range of 123.2 - 126.25 KZT for $1. During this period KZT became stronger by 1.7 %, from the beginning of the year - by 2.2 % and by the end of February the exchange rate of KZT reached 124.21 for a dollar," the Chairman of the National bank said. In February, the volume of stock exchange operations at the Kazakhstan stock exchange (KASE) decreased in comparison with January by 33.7 % and totaled $4.1 billion (from the beginning of the year - $10.4 billion). Volume of operations at the off-board currency market decreased by 15.9 % and made $8.9 billion (from the beginning of the year - $5.3 billion).